Archive for Short Breaks

Gateshead Carers Association has been awarded the contract for administering this Carers Wellbeing Fund by Newcastle Gateshead CCG.

It is funding which enables eligible unpaid parent carers to access a break from their caring role. A parent carer is defined as a parent who is caring for a child (aged under 18) with a disability, complex need, chronic health, a long term health condition or a substance misuser.

The award of a ‘Time for ME’ grant should lead to at least one of the following outcomes for parent carers;

An improved feeling of wellbeing

A reduction in feelings of stress

A reduction in feeling isolated

An improved sense of calm and being in control

An improved relationship with family/friends

An improved feeling of managing the caring role

The ‘Time for ME’ fund is available until end of June 2018. There is limited money available so not all applications will be successful.

How much can I apply for? The maximum grant award is £200 although some restrictions do apply (more details about what the grant can be used for is given below).

What sort of things can I apply for? A grant from the Carers Wellbeing Fund can be used for something that clearly gives you a break, supports you in your caring role, and/or maintains or improves your own health and wellbeing. For example:

A holiday or weekend break in the UK

Therapies/relaxation or wellbeing sessions, including spa days

College course fees, books or equipment

Gym membership, exercise classes, swimming sessions etc.

An adult education class or training course

Day trips to places of interest or a general day trip.

Social events e.g. to attend a concert, the theatre or the cinema

Purchase of items for an activity or hobby e.g. a tent or a bicycle

A laptop/tablet/mobile phone

Essential goods for the carer ‘s wellbeing i.e. TV for bedroom

Gardening or gardening equipment costs

Beauty treatments e.g. manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials

To apply, you must contact Gateshead Carers Association and complete our Time for ME application form to be returned to us at: Gateshead Carers Association, John Haswell House, 8/9 Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead, NE8 4DY.

Your details will then be entered onto our referral database and one of our Carer Wellbeing Facilitators will contact you to discuss your application. It is important that you read the terms and conditions fully before making your application.

Our carers enjoyed ‘Caring and Sharing’ today at our regular Carers Cafe held at the Watergate cafe, Whickham. Sharon’s delicious homemade scones are always a treat too! We meet there on the first Tuesday of every month.

If you live in or around Birtley why not join us this Thursday for our Birtley Carers Cafe 10.30-12.30 at The Birtley Resource Hub. We meet at Birtley on the second Thursday of every month.

Meet others in a friendly & informal environment over a cuppa & cake! It’s a great way to make new friends, support each other and have a laugh.

The sun shone brightly for our Carers Social Group outing yesterday to Durham Botanic Gardens and the Oriental Museum. Everyone agreed that the gardens are a ‘hidden gem’ and well worth a visit and another…! Here is a selection of photos showing the vibrant colour and beauty of the gardens – no photos were taken in ‘Bug Corner’!!! Find out more at https://www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden/whatson/

Some of our Craft Group and Needles & Pins Group members have expressed an interest in showcasing the items that they have made throughout the year during our Party in the Park event in June. We are very keen to celebrate the creative skills of our carers and have allocated a stall during the Party in the Park event on Wednesday 8th June to sell some of the wonderful items that have been produced by you all. Any monies raised will go towards purchasing further materials for the creative groups at Gateshead Carers Association.

We understand that this may seem a scary thought for some people and that not everyone will want to be involved in creating items to sell. We also do not want this to interfere at all with your participation at the above mentioned groups. We have therefore set up fortnightly ‘Created by Carers’ sessions leading up to Carers Week in order to give a chance for those interested to produce items to sell.

We would love to see you there and/or have your support as a volunteer on the stall during the event, so if you would like to get involved please contact Laura Ratcliffe or Joanne Wilson on Tel: 0191 4900121. The scheduled dates at John Haswell House are listed below.

Due to popular demand, we are organising an autumn/winter Improver’s Session for ‘Computers Don’t Byte’ – our popular computer class for carers. It is ideal for those that have previously attended our basic course but are either still ‘scared’ or want to continue developing their skills in order to become more confident using a computer. This is an opportunity to work at your own pace with easy step-by-step instructions. Whilst receiving support from your tutor and other learners in the group you will be able you improve on areas that you still find difficult. As always, we will continue to ensure a relaxed and friendly learning environment, where you will not feel too embarrassed to ask questions or be worried about getting a task wrong. Carers are welcome to attend even if they have attended a course elsewhere but are keen to improve their skills.

Carers are beginning to prepare the allotment garden for the year ahead and to assist them in this task we have invited local gardening charity ‘Green Horizons’ to come along and provide six half day gardening sessions. The sessions will take place between March and September and are open to carers, families and friends. Green Horizon gardening session dates are listed on our website events calendear and on our facebook events page.

To get involved or for more information please contact Mandy Quinn on Tel: 0191 4900121.

On Saturday 24th January the Polish Carer Group met for a creative and educational workshop to learn about origami and Chinese culture. Local artist Lip Lee was invited along to the meeting give carers the opportunity to learn about the Chinese New Year (celebrated on February 19th) and try their hand at origami. Carers and their families enjoyed the opportunity to learn something new, be creative and have fun. To see photos from this event please visit the Polish Facebook page: Opiekunowie Gateshead.

The next Polish Carer session will be held on Saturday 14th March at 11 Regent Tce, Gateshead between 10.30am-1.00pm. For more details please email: opiekun@gatesheadcarers.com in English or Polish, or you can call Becci on Tel: 0191 4900121 (in English only).

We are offering a new Peer Mentor Support group for carers of those who are affected by alcohol or substance misuse. The group will offer new and existing carers the opportunity to meet up and share their experiences in a confidential and safe environment.

The Peer Mentor Support group is different from our other support groups in that it is carer led and allows the opportunity for carers to become Peer Mentor Champions. Training will be offered to those carers who would like to become volunteer Peer Mentor Champions, helping to build upon their existing knowledge and skills, enabling them to offer advice and support to new carer’s facing similar issues.

The first Peer Mentor Support session is on Tuesday 10th of March at 11 Regent Terrace, Gateshead between 4.00pm and 6.00pm. The group will then meet once a month.

If you are interested in finding out more about the group and/or the peer mentor opportunities that are available, please contact Alcohol and Substance Misuse Carer Support Workers Joanne Wilson or Carolynn Dixon on Tel: 0191 4900121.

Since November 2012 we have received £40,000 through Big Lottery Fund to provide a range of short breaks for carers. These have been a welcome relief for carers as many of whom find it difficult to take time out to enjoy practical and social activities.

1,917 Carer Breaks Provided!

Between November 2012 and November 2014 we provided 1,917 short breaks to carers, a survey was carried out to see the benefit these short breaks had made to the lives of carers who had accessed them. Feedback was very positive and informed us that short breaks are valuable and necessary for maintaining carer’s personal health and well-being.

Carers said…

“It’s a nice break away from my caring role. A day we wouldn’t get if it wasn’t for Gateshead Carers.”

“The group has saved me from being all alone in the world.”

“It’s a way of letting off steam.”

Short Break Outcomes

The chart below highlights carer short break outcomes. We asked carers who had accessed a short break between November 2012 and November 2014 to indicate how it had affected or improved their lives, the results are below.

Funding for carer breaks is due to end in November 2014 however we have submitted applications in order to continue this service. Visit our Short Breaks page to see a list of all our Activity and Peer Support Groups or call: 0191 4900121 or contact us here.

Roma Carer Support Group

One of the positive aspects of our work with BME and faith communities has been the setting up of a support group for the Czech Roma Community in Gateshead. This is a close knit community many of whom have lived and worked in this country for over ten years. At the drop-in session we provide information and support to families who are caring for a family member or friends in their community to help them access services.

Above: The Czech Roma Carer Group accessed short break funds to enjoy a meal at Sambuca’s Restaurant in Newcastle.

The friendly and informal drop-in sessions are held at Windmill Hills Community Centre every fortnight. Our BME Development Worker arranges and attends each session along with a support worker from GCA. Guest speakers are invited when group members have requested specialist knowledge about local services.

Czech Roma carers face the same challenges as all other communities in Gateshead. We offer personalised information and support to each family in regard to issues such housing and council tax, welfare and disability benefits as well as support at medical and school meetings.

For more information about the Czech Roma Carer Group please speak to our BME Development Worker on: 0191 4900121 or get in touch here.